Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-04-07


white men again as there is moth
ing to hinder us.
Secretary of the Interior Teller
says, in ansver to a resolution Of
the United States senate Of De-
cember 3rd, 1884, inquiring con-
cerning leasing of land in the In
dian Territory:
"The Cherokees have a fee sim
pie title to their lands and they do
not recognize the right Of the de-
partment to interfere in the man
agement of their affairs with refer
ence thereto" And again speak
ing of the Cherokee strip: "The
land is theirs and they have an
undoubted right to use it in any
way that a white man would use
it., with the same character of title
and an attempt to deprive the ma
tion of the rights would be in di-
rect conflict with the treaty as well
as the plain words of the patent.
They are quiet capable of determ-
lining without the aid of the Indian
department or congress wha. is
to their advantage or disadvantage
and the government cannot inter
fere with their rightful use and oc-
cupation of their lands, which are
rightfully theirs, as the public do
main is that of the United States,
subject only to the provisions of
article sixteen Of the treaty OF
1866, which at most is only con-
tract to sell certain portions Of the
land; but until the government
settles friendly Indians thereon and
pays fer the land the right Of pos
session and occupancy is especially
reserved"
Commissioner Atkins says: "This
opinion of Secretary Teller's still
controls the department and must
until revei sed or modified by COM
petent authority"
Springer of Illinois says, in at
tempting to get the Oklahoma bill
through the house of representa-
tivcs: "What is the obstacle TO the
passage of this bill ? 1t is the lease
Of the Cherokee strip by the Cher
okee nation to a cattle company
the largest land lease ever put on
record in this country, covering an
area of over 10000 acres; as
large as the states of Rhode Island
and Massachusetts. Now l want
to call attention to this lease which
this bill abrogates. Unless we alb
rogate that lease we can never
make another treaty with those
Indians. The Cherokee Strip
Live Stock association pays the
Indians 100000 year for that
lease and sublets it for S500,000,
making 100000 annually.
Now then as we have got pick
ct of Texas COW horns on the strip
and the Indian department holds
that we have right to do as we
please with those lands, l think
we had better try to keep the pick
ct there a few years longer. Let
us hear from some one else con-
cerning the strip.
There are great many,
Who, for a few pennies,
That in our midst do live,
Woald our country destroy.
So out they dogo,
Amer political lore,
Signing themselves thus
"'.. ;" "vinltA, p" "observer," Etc, to
raise a muss.
The last, but the least by far,
Comes the insigniheant three-stAr,
For himself to get a name
Ofhonesty unprecedented in fame.
In print to see his name he fails.
so Washington, therefore, he Assails,
That, concerning himself, to let the world
know,
That sueh inslgnlneants did grow.
From what nation, breed or tribe
These strays did Arrivei
All TO tell have failed.
Except "vinita, " the valiant and brave.
In their eagernesss for fame,
Their unmanllness proclaim,
By Haunting the bloody shirt,
The Bunch party to hurt.
B9t In their efforts falling,
Ever Ihing Of Importance Avalling,
BY the combined yelps Of all the stray dogs.
The rabbit" to atart toward the logs.
The huntsmAn TO the pack propose,
That they for while fepose.
While he around doth look
For the Rabbit" ITO them) an impene-
trable thicket hath took.
They now propose, at last,
To eleetioneer on the present, not the past,
Though they did not hesitate
To 90 beyond, where they knew nothing OF
fate
They Of their candidate doth boast indeed,
That Of elder and apples he hath no need;
And they that Of them will partAke,
VIII say, he IL the fellow for chief desig-
mated by fate.
Cider, the "are Of life" great.
Hath the Jug as an inseperable mate,
BY which these men, both great and small.
Are 10 become the greatest men Of all.
Temperance and morality. our constitution
saith,
l.
Yet, by cider aud the jug,
They propose the "Rab0is" to plug
All righti come ahead,
With yourJug, cider and apple-breAd,
Which will win for any party, yssAy,